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LOS ANGELES Lenders took possession of fewer U.S. homes in 2012 than a year earlier, as the pace of new homes entering the path to foreclosure slowed and banks increasingly opted to allow troubled borrowers to sell their homes for less than what they owed on their mortgage.

All told, banks repossessed 671,251 homes last year, down nearly 17 percent from 804,423 the year before, according to data released today by foreclosure listing firm RealtyTrac Inc.

The trend, along with an annual decline in overall foreclosure activity, suggests that the country's foreclosure woes are easing, at least on a national level.

All told, foreclosure activity, defined as the number of homes that received at least one foreclosure-related filing, declined 3 percent last year. That translates to 1.8 million U.S. homes, and represents a drop of 36 percent from a peak of 2.9 million homes in 2010, the firm said.

Ebay's sales beat estimates

SAN JOSE
EBay Inc., operator of the world's largest online marketplace, reported fourth-quarter revenue that beat some analysts' estimates after record holiday sales on the Web and via mobile devices.

Sales climbed 18 percent to $3.99 billion, the company said Wednesday in a statement. That exceeded the $3.98 billion average estimate compiled by Bloomberg. Profit, excluding some items, was 70 cents a share, matching analysts' predictions. EBay climbed as much as 2.1 percent in extended trading after closing at $52.90 in New York.

The results suggest Chief Executive John Donahoe is sustaining a turnaround effort that began in March 2008, when he succeeded Meg Whitman. The company has recorded 14 straight quarters of sales growth, and a 75 percent rally in the shares since Donahoe took the helm.

Homebuilders are less optimistic

LOS ANGELES Confidence among U.S. homebuilders held steady in January at the highest level in nearly seven years, but builders are feeling slightly less optimistic about their prospects for sales over the next six months.

The National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo builder sentiment index released Wednesday held at 47, the same as in December and the highest reading since April 2006, just before the housing bubble burst. Readings below 50 suggest negative sentiment about the housing market.

Foreign holdings hit record

WASHINGTON Foreign demand for U.S. Treasury securities rose to a record level in November, further evidence that overseas investors remained confident in U.S. debt despite looming budget battles in Washington.

The Treasury Department says foreign holdings of U.S. Treasurys rose 0.6 percent in November from October to $5.56 trillion. It was the 11th consecutive monthly gain.

China, the top foreign holder, increased its portfolio by $200 million to $1.17 trillion. Japan, the second-largest holder, boosted its investments by $900 million to $1.13 trillion.

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